The list was begun only last month by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which compiles the information provided by local probation and parole officials.

I believe residents have the right to know where to get information that affects their safety.

I wanted readers to know of the existence of the list, which is relatively new, how the names on it are compiled and what sorts of offenses put a person on it. We printed the list to accompany the story on this one occasion.

I believe printing a list of sex offenders is very different from lists of other types of crimes.

Studies vary wildly about the recidivism rates of sex offenders. Most agree that a minimum of 20 percent will commit another sex offense - or at least will get caught at it. Some studies show that number to be as high as nearly 50 percent. Studies also show that the median age of the sexual assault victim is 13.

So, recidivism is high, and victims are too young to protect themselves alone.

A controversial study from 1989 concluded that treatment for sexual offenders doesn't slow their recidivism rate.

Regardless of whether that study is correct, everyone agrees that child molesters are likely to strike again. Don't parents deserve to know who those child molesters are?

I don't really care if printing the list of sex offenders ruined the day of a child molester.